Engine-starter.



J. P. RALEIGH.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.1, 191s.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

(ii/7166f]? ale L WA m M M W a J JAMES F. RALEIGH, OF CHICAGQ, ILLINOIS.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed December 1, Serial No. 803,997.

engine starters especially adapted for use on automobiles and has forits object the provision of an improved construction of this characterwhich is simple and efiicient in use.

'I he invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention 'will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this'specification, and in. which- Figure 1 isa view of a foot lever employed in the construction, Fig. 2, an end viewof the engine shaft equipped with means for starting the same, and Fig.3, a section taken on substantially line 00-10 of Fig. 2. A

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawingcomprises a ratchet wheel which is fixed to engine shaft 2 inanysuitable or desired manner. A pawl arm 3 is arranged to revolve freelyadjacent ratchet wheel 1 and carries a pawl 4 provided on its inner facewith teeth 5 adapted 'to. engage the teeth .of ratchet wheel 1. Pawl 4is provided with a forward extension 6 having an outwardly acting camsurface 7 which is arranged to contact with a stationary cam surface 8at the forward terminus of the movement of said pawl and arm to forcesaid pawl teeth 5 'out of en-' gagement with ratchet 1. Cam surface 8 isformed at one end of a cam member 9 which artially embraces ratchet 1and is secured in position by any suitable or desired means not shown.Pawl 4 is also provided with a rearward extension 10 having an inwardlyacting cam surface 11 arranged to engage a stationary cam surface 12 oncam member 9 and throw ratchet teeth?) out of engagement at the rearwardterminus of the movement of pawl'arm 3 and pawl 4 can be readilyunderstood. By this arrangement it will be observed that'at both therearward and forward tcrmirr'fbftlie movement of pawl 3 the pawl 4willbe automatically disengaged from ratchet 1. The disengagement on theforward movement prevents rattling or clicking of the pawl during normaloperation and disengagement on the rearward movement prevents injuryfrom back-firing? of the engine. 1

Pawl arm 3 is connected by a link 13 with .anarm l of a bell crank lever,1 the other arm 15 of which is connected by a link 16 with therearward arm 17 of a lever 18 mounted in the automobile under the seatthereof and projecting forwardly and rearwardlv with relation thereto.The other arm 18 of said lever projects ,forwardlyin operative relationwith the feet of the car driver and a spring 19 serves to'draw arm 18upwardly. The outer end of arm 18 is provided with a pedal 20 adapted tosupport the foot of thedriver and a locking dog 21 is arranged'oi'f saidlever in operative relation W'th said pedal'so as to be ehgaged by'a fooon said pedal and rendereil inoperative as" will be readily' understooThe lower end of dog 21 is arranged to engage a catch plate 22automatically upon depression of lever arm 18. Lever arm 18 is alsoprovided with a supplemental pedal 23 by means of which said lever armmay be depressed to cause automatic engagement of locking dog 21 to holdarm 18 in depressed position.

In use when it is desired to start the engine the foot is placed uponpedal 20 thus releasing dog 21 and the lever arm 18 permitted to riseunder the influence of spring 19. Upon depression of lever arm 18 pawlarm 3 is caused to make an operative strolie f with relation to ratchet1 and turns the e T, gine shaft through a partial revolution. If thisdoes not start the engine, the operation may be repeated as often asdesired, the locking dog 21 being constantly held from locking catchplate 22 b Phe pressure. After the engine is started t a foot is shiftedto pedal 23 and arm 18 depressed, whereupon locking dog 21 automaticallyengages catch plate 22 to hold the parts in their normal positionresting upon pawl 4 before engagement with ratchet 1. In case ofback-firing of the engine and consequent reversal thereof the camsurface 11 disengages the pawl and thus prevents injury to the operator.

/Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my inventi'on into efi'eet,.this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail i if of suchvariations and modifications as some within the scope of the appendedclaims;

aving described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secure byLetters atent is:

1. The combination with an of a ratchet wheel engine shaft, connected tooperate said shaft; a pawl arm adjacent said ratchet wheel; a pawlpivoted on said arm adapted to engage said. ratchet wheel and providedwith a rearward extension; means for moving said arm through a portionof a. revolution; an inwardly acting cam surface on the rear portion ofsaid pawl; an outwardly acting cam surface on the forward portion ofsaid pawl; and stationary cam members cooperating with said cam surfacesto throw said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet at each end ofthe stroke of said pawl arm substantiaily desailied.

2. The combination with an engine shaft, of a ratchet wheel connected tooperate said shaft; a pawl arm adjacent said, ratchet wheel; a, pawl onarm adapted. to en gage said ratchet wheel; a lever operatively'connected with said pawl arm and arranged to revolve said pawl armthrough portion of a revolution; automatic means for locking said leverin position at the forward terminus of its movement; means at the forvward terminus of movement arranged to hold said pawl out of engagementwith said ratchet and means at the rearward terminus of said movementarranged to throw said pawl out of engagement with said ratchetautomatically, substantially as described.

' 3. The combination with an engine shaft,

of a ratchet wheel connected to operate said shaft; a pawl arm adjacentsaid ratchet wheel; a pawl on said arm adapted to engage said ratchetwheel; a lever operatively connected with said pawl arm and arranged torevolve said pawl arm through a portion of a revolution; automatic meansfor lockingsaid lever in position at the forward terminus of itsmovement; and means at the fee ward and rearward termini of saidmovement arranged to throw said pawl out of en gagement with saidratchet automatically and hold said pawl out of such engagement,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of .two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. RALEIGH.

Witnesses JosnoA R. H. Po'r'rs, 13. G. Rrcnanns.

